Criminal Lawyer in Korea for Foreigners
If you are a foreign national summoned, arrested or charged in Korea, speak to a Korean criminal defense lawyer before your first statement to police.
Attorney Doyun Lee (이도연), a Korean Bar Association-certified criminal law specialist, represents foreign nationals directly in English — from the first police interview through prosecution and trial. Looking for an overview of the attorney and how representation works? See our English-speaking criminal lawyer in Korea page.
Talk to Attorney Lee
A brief initial email describing your matter is free. Detailed legal advice or evidence review is a paid advisory service (KRW 550,000). Email is available in English and Chinese.
What is your situation?
Pick the description closest to yours — each links to the specific guidance for that stage.
Do this now (the first 24 hours)
Whatever your situation, these steps apply from the moment you know a criminal matter may involve you.
- Do not give a statement to police before you have spoken to a lawyer.
- Preserve messages, files and devices connected to the matter — do not delete anything.
- Write down the timeline of events while your memory is fresh.
- Do not contact the other party to "explain" or resolve things yourself.
- Check your visa and travel status before booking any flight — an active investigation can affect it.
- Email a short case summary to a Korean criminal defense lawyer.
How a Korean criminal case proceeds
A Korean criminal case generally moves through three stages — police investigation, a Public Prosecution Service decision, and court — though not every case reaches every stage.
Police investigation (경찰 수사)
The police gather evidence, question the suspect and any witnesses, and must decide within three months of accepting the complaint whether to forward the case to the Public Prosecution Service with an opinion on whether charges are warranted.
What Attorney Lee does at this stage: Attends the police interview as defense counsel where appropriate, reviews the allegation and available evidence, helps organize the timeline and documents before questioning, and represents the suspect at the warrant hearing (영장실질심사) if detention is sought.
Public Prosecution Service decision (공소청 처분)
A prosecutor at the Public Prosecution Service (공소청, which replaced the Prosecutors' Office on October 2, 2026) reviews the file the police forward and the evidence, and decides whether to indict, to close the case, or — depending on the facts — to issue a suspended indictment or a summary order. Prosecutors no longer investigate suspects directly; they may request supplementary investigation from the police. This decision depends entirely on the specific facts and evidence.
What Attorney Lee does at this stage: Submits written opinions to the Public Prosecution Service, reviews the evidence file where access is available, and where appropriate discusses settlement or resolution options with the other side.
Court (재판)
If indicted, the case proceeds to trial (or a summary court process for some minor matters), where guilt and sentencing are decided based on the evidence presented.
What Attorney Lee does at this stage: Prepares and presents the defense at trial, examines witnesses and evidence, applies for bail where relevant, and argues sentencing factors.
This is general information about how Korean criminal procedure can work. It is not a prediction of what will happen in any individual case.
If someone is arrested
If a person is arrested or detained in Korea, Korean law sets procedural limits and rights that apply from the outset.
- Under the Criminal Procedure Act (arts. 200-2, 200-4), investigators generally must seek a detention warrant within 48 hours of an arrest, or release the person.
- Whether detention continues is decided at a warrant hearing (영장실질심사) before a judge, where the detained person and counsel can appear and be heard.
- The detained person has the right to counsel and the right to remain silent throughout.
- A foreign national has the right to have their consular post notified of the detention on request (Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, art. 36).
What family members should send a lawyer as early as possible:
- The detained person’s full name and passport details, if available.
- Which police station, detention facility or agency is holding them.
- Any known case number, charge, or investigator name.
- Emergency contact details for the family.
Related guides:
Visa and immigration consequences
A criminal investigation in Korea can carry immigration consequences that run on a separate track from the criminal case itself.
- A travel ban (for foreign nationals, 출국정지) can be imposed while an investigation is active, particularly for serious charges.
- Your status of residence may be reviewed depending on the charge and how the case is resolved.
- In serious cases, a conviction can lead to deportation, depending on the offense and outcome.
Because of this, the defense strategy has to account for the immigration angle from the start rather than treating the criminal case and the visa consequence as separate problems. More on immigration and visa consequences → Exit bans: can you leave Korea during the case? →
Cases handled
Attorney Doyun Lee represents both people under investigation and victims filing complaints, across the following case types:
Why foreign clients retain Attorney Lee
- You speak directly with the attorney handling your case — not an interpreter or an intake team.
- Korean Bar Association-certified criminal law specialist.
- Criminal defense and the visa/immigration impact of the case are reviewed together, not in separate offices.
- Cases can be retained and handled remotely nationwide, with the engagement agreement signed electronically.
- Reference fees are published in advance, and the fee for your matter is confirmed in writing before you retain.
- Chinese-language communication is also available by email and WeChat.
Real results in similar cases
Results reflect individual cases and do not guarantee the outcome of any similar matter.
Fees
Reference fees are published in advance:
| Brief initial email | Free |
| Phone consultation in English (30 min) | KRW 110,000 |
| In-person consultation in English (30 min) | KRW 550,000 |
| Consultation fee | Waived if you retain the office for the matter |
How to start (3 steps)
01Email a case summary
Send a short summary by email. Include your name and preferred language, the police station or agency involved (if known), whether you are a suspect, victim or witness, a rough timeline, and any summons, message or case document you have received.
02Review and fee quote
Attorney Doyun Lee reviews what you send and, if the matter can be assessed from the information available, provides a fee quote in writing before anything is charged beyond the free initial email.
03Electronic retainer & representation begins
If you decide to proceed, the engagement agreement is signed electronically and representation begins — no office visit required, from anywhere in Korea or abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
I was summoned by the police in Korea as a foreigner. What now?
Do not give a statement before consulting a lawyer. Preserve evidence, write down the timeline, and contact Attorney Doyun Lee — mark your email URGENT (dylee@newlawyer.co.kr). For foreigners, the case can also affect your visa and travel.
Will a criminal case cancel my visa or get me deported?
It can, depending on the charge and the result. That is why the criminal defense and the immigration consequence should be handled together rather than in separate offices.
Is the interpreter at the police station enough?
No. An interpreter translates words but does not build your defense or protect your interests. You have the right to counsel during questioning; retain a lawyer before your first statement.
Can I be defended in English without visiting the office?
Yes. Attorney Doyun Lee consults directly in English and handles cases remotely nationwide; the retainer is signed electronically.
Can I leave Korea while the investigation is ongoing?
Not always. A travel ban can be imposed during an active investigation, especially for serious charges, and leaving without clearing this first can itself create legal problems. Confirm your travel status with a lawyer before booking any flight. See the exit ban guide at /en/exit-ban-lawyer-korea.
Will I be detained (arrested) just for being questioned by the police?
Not automatically. Most police interviews in Korea proceed on a voluntary, summoned basis without arrest. Detention requires a warrant, generally tied to flight risk or risk of evidence destruction — which is one more reason your first statement and conduct during the investigation matter.
How long does a criminal investigation in Korea usually take?
It varies widely by charge and evidence complexity — from a few weeks for a straightforward matter to many months for cases involving digital forensics or multiple parties. An early case assessment gives a realistic timeline for your specific charge.
Do I need to be physically in Korea for the whole process?
Not necessarily. Many procedural steps can be handled by your lawyer, and some interviews can be scheduled around travel. Whether your presence is required depends on the charge and stage — this is reviewed case by case.
What is the difference between being a suspect (피의자) and a witness (참고인)?
A witness is questioned for information about someone else’s case; a suspect is the person under investigation and has the right to remain silent and to counsel. If you are unsure which one you are, that itself is a reason to consult a lawyer before the interview — the label affects your rights during questioning.
How urgently should I contact a lawyer after being contacted by Korean police?
Immediately, and before your first scheduled interview if possible. Early involvement affects what evidence can still be preserved, how your first statement is framed, and whether a travel ban or detention risk can be addressed proactively. Email dylee@newlawyer.co.kr and mark it URGENT for a fast response.
How much does a criminal lawyer in Korea cost for a foreigner?
A brief initial email describing your matter is free. A 30-minute phone consultation in English is KRW 110,000, and a 30-minute in-person consultation in English is KRW 550,000; the consultation fee is waived if you retain the office for the matter. The published fee schedule, including criminal-defense fee ranges, is at koreacriminalattorney.com/en/legal-fees.
Can the case be resolved without going to trial?
Sometimes. Depending on the facts and evidence, a prosecutor may decide not to indict, may issue a suspended indictment, or may resolve some matters through a summary order rather than a full trial. Whether any of these is realistic for a given case depends entirely on its specific facts.
Who is Attorney Doyun Lee?
Doyun Lee (이도연) is a Korean Bar Association-certified criminal law specialist and partner attorney at Newlawyer Law Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, who represents foreign nationals directly in English in criminal investigations and proceedings, including pre-entry consultations for people outside Korea. See the full attorney profile.
Already outside Korea and planning to return?
Have your Korean criminal defense attorney in place before you fly, rather than searching for one after arriving.
Pre-Entry Risk Review →Consultation
Talk to Attorney Doyun Lee directly, in English
Email a short case summary, or use the consultation chat to request a time to talk.
dylee@newlawyer.co.kr
Phone consultation in English: 30 minutes, KRW 110,000. In-person consultation in English: 30 minutes, KRW 550,000.
The consultation fee is waived if you retain Attorney Doyun Lee for the matter.
Legal Information Notice
This page provides general information about Korean criminal procedure and does not constitute legal advice for a specific matter. It does not guarantee any particular outcome. Korean law and procedure may change, and the advice appropriate for a case depends on its specific facts and procedural stage.
Advertising Attorney: Doyun Lee, KBA-certified criminal law specialist, Newlawyer Law Office. Legal references: Korean Criminal Procedure Act (arts. 200-2, 200-4, warrant hearing, appointment of defense counsel); Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, art. 36; Immigration Control Act (travel ban, status of residence).